Italian Wedding Soup Recipe with Homemade Meatballs

August 9, 2026

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe with Homemade Meatballs

This Italian Wedding Soup recipe is the kind of cozy, homemade soup you want simmering on the stove on a cold day. Tender Italian meatballs, vegetables, tiny pasta, and fresh spinach cook in a savory chicken broth, then everything gets finished with Parmesan for extra flavor.

Despite the name, Italian wedding soup isn't traditionally associated with weddings. The name refers to the delicious “marriage” of meat and greens in the soup.

Recipe Summary

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6–8

Ingredients

For the Meatballs

½ pound ground beef

½ pound ground Italian sausage

½ cup Italian breadcrumbs

⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 large egg

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

1 medium yellow onion, finely diced

2 medium carrots, peeled and diced

2 celery stalks, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

8 cups chicken broth

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

½ teaspoon dried oregano

Salt and black pepper, to taste

¾ cup acini di pepe pasta

4 cups fresh baby spinach

½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Fresh lemon juice, optional

How to Make Italian Wedding Soup

1. Make the Meatballs

Add the ground beef, Italian sausage, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to a large bowl.

Mix just until combined. Avoid overworking the meat, which can make the meatballs tough.

Roll the mixture into small meatballs, about ¾ to 1 inch wide. Italian wedding soup is best with bite-sized meatballs rather than large ones.

2. Brown the Meatballs

Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.

Working in batches, brown the meatballs for about 4–5 minutes, turning occasionally. They don't need to be completely cooked through yet.

Transfer them to a plate.

Tip: You can skip browning and cook the raw meatballs directly in the broth, but browning adds another layer of flavor.

3. Sauté the Vegetables

Add the butter to the same pot.

Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook for 5–6 minutes, until they begin to soften.

Add the garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds.

4. Add the Broth

Pour in the chicken broth and stir in the Italian seasoning and oregano.

Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer.

Return the meatballs to the pot and simmer for about 10 minutes.

5. Cook the Pasta

Stir in the acini di pepe and cook according to the package directions, usually about 8–10 minutes.

Stir occasionally so the tiny pasta doesn't stick to the bottom.

6. Add the Spinach

Once the pasta and meatballs are cooked, stir in the fresh spinach.

Cook for another 1–2 minutes, just until the spinach wilts.

Stir in the Parmesan and fresh parsley. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.

For a brighter flavor, squeeze a little fresh lemon juice into the soup before serving.

What Is the Best Pasta for Italian Wedding Soup?

Acini di pepe is my first choice. The tiny round pasta is small enough to fit on a spoon alongside the meatballs and vegetables without overwhelming the broth.

You can also use:

Orzo

Ditalini

Pastina

Stelline

Tips for the Best Italian Wedding Soup

Use beef and Italian sausage together for more flavorful meatballs. Freshly grated Parmesan also makes a noticeable difference in both the meatballs and broth.

Keep your meatballs small. You want to be able to get a little meatball, pasta, vegetables, greens, and broth in the same spoonful.

If you're making the soup ahead of time, consider cooking the pasta separately. Pasta continues absorbing broth as it sits and can become very soft.

What to Serve With Italian Wedding Soup

A big bowl is filling on its own, but it's especially good with warm garlic bread or crusty Italian bread for dipping.

You could also serve it with a Caesar salad, toasted focaccia, Parmesan breadsticks, or a simple Italian chopped salad.

Storage and Reheating

Store leftover Italian wedding soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat. You may need to add a splash of chicken broth because the pasta will absorb some of the liquid while refrigerated.

Can You Freeze Italian Wedding Soup?

Yes. For the best results, freeze the soup without the pasta. Pasta can become overly soft after freezing and reheating.

Freeze the meatballs, vegetables, greens, and broth in an airtight freezer container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, reheat, and cook fresh pasta before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called Italian wedding soup?

The name doesn't mean the soup is typically served at Italian weddings. It comes from the idea that the meat and leafy greens are a particularly good pairing—or “marriage”—of flavors.